2021 Katsuta Marathon Canceled - 10,627 Finishers This Year

Due to the ongoing effects of the coronavirus crisis, on July 14 the organizing committee of the 69th Katsuta Marathon, scheduled for Jan. 31, 2021, made the decision to cancel the race. After careful study and discussion the organizing committee determined that it would be impossible to stage the event in a way that would assure the safety of all participants and staff from infection. We apologize to all the runners who had looked forward to taking part in our event, to the volunteers who every year provide the warmest hospitality to the runners, and to the companies who generously support the race. We thank you all for your understanding.

In addition to the Katsuta Marathon, the Dec. 6 Mihama Ekiden likewise held in the city of Hitachinaka has also been canceled. In place of the two events, we will hold a virtual marathon and running photo contest to provide runners with the opportunity to unite in running. Once finalized details on these events will be posted to the Katsuta Marathon website, the Hitachinaka city government site, and in the city bulletin.

We pray for a swift end to the coronavirus crisis and will do everything we can to make our 70th anniversary race in 2021 something special. Thank you as always for supporting our event.

Akira Otani
Director, Katsuta Marathon Organizing Committee

Translator's note: JRN associate editor Mika Tokairin's hometown race, the Katsuta Marathon is the second Japanese marathon in 2021 with more than 10,000 finishers to cancel, following February's Kumamoto Castle Marathon. This year Katsuta had strong winning times of 2:11:17 and 2:37:32, its winners earning invitations to compete in the Boston Marathon. Katsuta's accompanying 10 km is one of the highest-level road races that distance in Japan, with 3,747 finishers alongside the 10,627 in the marathon. One 10,000+ runner marathon this fall, the Dec. 6 Shonan International Marathon with 16,821 finishers last year, has yet to formally cancel, but it seems inevitable.

source article:
https://katsutamarathon.jp/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/announcement.pdf
translated by Brett Larner